Roommates

chapter 27

I held the cold phone against my ear and stared out of the small window, playing with the thin, white blinds covering it.

"Penn isn't in the mental institution anymore and I can't find any documented living for him in Texas or any neighboring states, Québec or Pennsylvania either."

I sighed and took my bonnet off, it's getting too tight for me.

"How did he get out so soon? I thought he had a few years left?"

"The record is sealed, but it looks fishy." I could hear Nas hitting the noisy keys over the phone, ending with a few clicks.

I took Lennox's advice and told Nas about all of the messages, the package, and my fears of Penn coming back, he was a little upset about me not calling him immediately and wanted me back in Houston, but I managed to talk my way out of it.

"I'm gonna find that bitch bastard, monk. Dad's coming to my station and we're gonna figure all of this out, okay?"

"Okay, thank you, Nas. I love you." I nodded and filled Scampi's wooden bowl, he came sliding into the kitchen once he heard the food hit the bowl.

"I love you too, please be safe." We ended the call and two messages popped up on my phone.

Baby 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨🤍:

thinking about yo pretty ass like crazy

Baby 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨🤍:

ft later?

I smiled at the short messages and began to reply, only to get interrupted by a call from Lennox.

"What's up, Lenn-"

"I need you to come get me, the police are lookin' for me." Lennox panted through the phone, I can tell she's in the wilderness and running through leaves.

Fear and shock burst in my stomach and spread through my body in no time.

"L-Lennox, what in the hell?! You runnin' from the law?!" I ran into Lennox's living room for my shoes and keys.

"Yes! Please hurry, Zo! I'm sending my location!" Lennox sounds noticeably afraid and it frightened me even more.  Lennox is never scared.

I ended the call and stuffed my phone into my pocket.

With ease, I scooped Scampi's small body up and ran out of the door.

I slowly drove through the narrow nature trail and looked through the tall trees for Lennox's short body.

"Zo!" Lennox shot out of a bush and hopped into my passenger seat, I watched her buckle the seatbelt and sped off.

Lennox's thin shirt was torn and she had small, green leaves sticking out of thick, curly fro.

"Why'd you bring my nephew? He doesn't need to see his auntie like this." Lennox leaned into the seat and caught her breath.

"Why the hell were you hiding from the police in a forest, Lennox?"

"Brynn!" I looked at Lennox in disbelief and she nodded in an exaggerated way. 

"I went to the nature trail to calm down after that dumbass test, and out of nowhere, Brynn dumbass ran up on me at the swings! I wasn't gonna fight her and I tried to walk away, but the bitch started pulling on my hair!

I had to beat her ass, Zola, in front of all those little ass kids too. But in the middle of it, I heard sirens. I left her dumbass in the woodchucks and ran, I saw them cuff her though." I pulled into the McDonalds line and ordered a frappe for myself and Lennox's favorite smoothie.

I pulled into a parking space and turned my car off, looking for any scratches or marks on Lennox's face, I couldn't find one.

"It doesn't look like she got a single hit on you."

"She didn't, all her punk ass could do was pull hair and rip clothes." Lennox slurped the smoothie, then sat it in the cupholder.

I can't believe that Brynn would try to fight someone unexpectedly and get beat up again. Is she that pitiful and vengeful, or is she expecting one of us to knock some sense into her?

"I'm so sorry, Lennox."

"Don't start, Zola, you know this isn't your fault."

I took all of the leaves I could see out of Lennox's hair and sighed, guilt washed over me in heavy waves.

Once we got to Lennox's place, I made an ice bag for her forehead and massaged her scalp. I know the after-pain of having your hair pulled all too well.

"How did things get so damn crazy, Zo." Lennox rested her head on my lap and laughed.

"I don't even know, Lennox."

Lennox yawned and after a while, she was out. I continued to play in her thick hair though.

My phone began to ring on the couch cushion next to us and I picked it up once I read my brother's contact.

"What's up, Nas?"

"Monk... Penn has been seen in Philadelphia."

~

Lennox tried her hardest to be good, but sometimes, people won't let you.

Riddle: Two girls have the same parents and were born at the same hour of the same day of the same month, but they are not twins. How can this be possible?

Answer: They were not born in the same year.

-Until next time, lovers 🎈